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Back to School Again, Already?

I have no idea where summer went. If you find the scoundrel who stole it, point me in the right direction.

My kids start school in two weeks. My oldest starts first grade and my youngest starts kindergarten. It seems like only yesterday that I was lugging myself through the hallways of the school, having just dropped my daughter off for her first day of kindergarten. I was sobbing and silently cursing all the other parents who seem so composed and relaxed. Didn’t they realize the gravity of the situation? Our babies were suddenly school-aged children, and I seemed to be the only one who realized it.

So I’m Not the Most Composed Mom in the World…

…when it comes to things like dropping my kids off for their first day at school at least. To be fair, I have a flawless record of sobbing uncontrollably when my kids do anything that points out that they’re getting older. My daughter started attending the Parents Day Out program at our church when she was two; I sobbed uncontrollably in the parking lot after I dropped her off. She started preschool when she was four and my son started when he was three; I cried like a baby. You already know about what happened when I dropped my daughter off at kindergarten last year, but this year I get to drop off both of my kids. I might as well strap a box of tissues to my hip that day.

It doesn’t matter if your child is starting preschool, high school, or a PhD program. Things like this can be emotional events. Even if you don’t think you’re going to start sniffling when you drop your kid off at school, I advise a tissue discreetly tucked into your pocket or purse. You may not think you’re going to get teary-eyed when you drop your kids off, but something about watching them walk away with their little backpacks might be enough to get you sniffling.

I do have one piece of advice. If you are like me and likely to become emotional on the first day of school, I suggest you try to stifle it a little until your Little One is out of your view. You don’t want your child to think that starting school is something to sob about, but instead that it’s an exciting new adventure. If your child does see you crying, say something along the lines of, “I’m just so proud of you!”

One Response to “Back to School Again, Already?”

Did your kids sob on their first days? Talking about my youngest brother we really felt proud of (my mom had your heart; she’s was utterly sobbing in silence, but I noticed that) dropping him to the kindergarten as he himself was so excited to know what actually school is, and even more his thoughts were driven by the fact that he will make friends there. Still we remember that day and it makes us all happy to see now that he is making up and doing well with his further studies. Grown well now to an understanding champ.